[Acute pulmonary edema and pregnancy: a descriptive study of 15 cases and review of the literature]

Pulmonary oedema in the course of severe maternal outcome in South Africa: A cohort study combined with clinical audit

OBJECTIVES

To describe the incidence and outcomes of pulmonary oedema in women with severe maternal outcome during childbirth and identify possible modifiable factors through audit.

METHODS

All women with severe maternal outcome (maternal deaths or near misses) who were referred to Tygerberg referral hospital from health facilities in Metro East district, South Africa, during 2014-2015 were included. Women with severe maternal outcome and pulmonary oedema during pregnancy or childbirth were evaluated using three types of critical incident audit: criterion-based case review by one consultant gynaecologist, monodisciplinary critical incident audit by a team of gynaecologists, multidisciplinary audit with expert review from anaesthesiologists and cardiologists.

RESULTS

Of 32,161 pregnant women who gave birth in the study period, 399 (1.2%) women had severe maternal outcome and 72/399 (18.1%) had pulmonary oedema with a case fatality rate of 5.6% (4/72). Critical incident audit demonstrated that pre-eclampsia/HELLP-syndrome and chronic hypertension were the main conditions underlying pulmonary oedema (44/72, 61.1%). Administration of volumes of intravenous fluids in already sick women, undiagnosed underlying cardiac illness, administration of magnesium sulphate as part of pre-eclampsia management and oxytocin for augmentation of labour were identified as possible contributors to the pathophysiology of pulmonary oedema. Women-related factors (improved antenatal care attendance) and health care-related factors (earlier diagnosis and management) would potentially have improved maternal outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Although pulmonary oedema in pregnancy is rare, among women with severe maternal outcome a considerable proportion had pulmonary oedema (18.1%). Audit identified options for prevention of pulmonary oedema and improved outcome. These included early detection and management of preeclampsia with close monitoring of fluid intake and cardiac evaluation in case of suspected pulmonary oedema. Therefore, a multidisciplinary clinical approach is recommended.

Postpartum Respiratory Distress Due to Hypertension-Related Pulmonary Edema

We present the case of a 35-year-old female who presented to the emergency department (ED) shortly after undergoing a cesarean section with dyspnea. Her vitals on admission revealed hypertension, tachypnea, bradycardia, and suboptimal oxygen saturation. Physical examination was remarkable for crackles in the lower lung fields. Laboratory results revealed elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), and D-dimer levels. A CT angiogram showed no pulmonary emboli, and an echocardiogram revealed a normal ejection fraction and no diastolic dysfunction. A chest X-ray was significant for pulmonary edema and vascular congestion. The patient was diagnosed with respiratory distress due to pulmonary edema that was secondary to hypertension. This unusual case report seeks to highlight the idea that elevated blood pressure in postpartum women should warrant careful monitoring, as its consequential manifestations may be lethal. Additionally, pulmonary edema secondary to hypertension should be considered as a differential in either postpartum or peripartum women who present with respiratory symptoms and elevated blood pressure.

Renal and cardiovascular repercussions in preeclampsia and their impact on fluid management: a literature review

Preeclampsia is a multifactorial condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Fluid therapy in these patients is challenging since volume expansion may precipitate pulmonary edema, and fluid restriction may worsen renal function. Furthermore, cardiac impairment may introduce an additional component to the hemodynamic management. This article reviews the repercussions of preeclampsia on renal and cardiovascular systems and the development of pulmonary edema, as well as to discuss fluid management, focusing on the mitigation of adverse outcomes and monitoring alternatives. The literature review was carried out using PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases from May 2019 to March 2020. Papers addressing the subjects of interest were included regardless of the publication language. There is a current trend towards restricting the administration of fluids in women with non-complicated preeclampsia. However, patients with preeclampsia may experience hemorrhagic shock, requiring volume resuscitation. In this case, hemodynamic monitoring is recommended to guide fluid therapy while avoiding complications.

[Peripartum cardiomyopathy: a rare, unknown and potentially fatal disease]

Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs in women with no prior history of cardiac dysfunction, and is presented by left heart failure. It occurs late in pregnancy or in the months after delivery. Rare in Europe, it is not well-known by obstetricians. The prognosis can be good with restitutio in integrum of the maternal cardiac function but the outcome can be dramatic and lead to death of the patient as the case in this report.